Former management member of Accra Hearts of Oak, Aziz Haruna Futa, has alleged that the Sports minister Mustapha Ussif has advised the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to terminate the contract of Black Stars head coach Otto Addo.
According to him, Mustapha Ussif urged the GFA to relieve Otto Addo of his coaching duties due to the Black Stars‘ poor performance in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
He explained that while the sports ministry cannot directly dismiss the coach, they can recommend it to the GFA, who ultimately have the authority to make the decision.
“It is the government that pays Otto Addo, and that is taxpayers’ money, but on that, the government cannot sack Addo.
“The only thing the government can do is to advise the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to sack Otto Addo, and the Minister (Mustapha Ussif) has done that,” he said in Twi while speaking on Accra-based Happy FM.
Otto Addo and his team have faced criticism for failing to qualify the Black Stars for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. The team finished at the bottom of Group F with three points, while Sudan and Angola advanced.
This marks the first time in 20 years that the Black Stars have not qualified for the AFCON.
Subsequently, Otto Addo presented a report to the GFA Executive Council on November 27, 2024, outlining the reasons for the team’s poor performance.
The meeting concluded without a decision, as the GFA stated they would consult with additional stakeholders, including the government, to determine Otto Addo‘s future.
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